Outspoken councillor Gordon Gillick will face a full investigation over claims he branded children in care “takers” from society.

A dozen complaints were lodged over comments allegedly made by the UKIP member when three looked-after teenagers were visiting Shire Hall, and the county council’s standards advisors have now recommended that the case should go before a disciplinary panel.

A council spokesman said: “The independent person has looked at the complaints and has recommended a full investigation should be carried out into the incident.

“The results of the investigation will then be presented to the constitution and ethics hearings subcommittee for their deliberation.

“As this complaint is still ongoing it would be inappropriate for the council to comment further.”

As revealed by the News, the investigation centres on a session held to brief councillors on their responsibilities as ‘corporate parents’ to protect children from abuse.

Several councillors who were at the meeting said Cllr Gillick had interjected to ask the teenagers attending why they were “takers” from the system and when they would start giving back to society.

Speaking to the News at the time, Somersham’s Cllr Steve Criswell said: “The three young people were fine examples of how we make a difference helping them overcome adversity and his comments were demeaning and totally unwarranted, and I felt he should be ashamed of himself.”

Cllr Gillick, a dad of 10 children and a grandfather to 42, who represents Waldersey, declined to comment. Previously his wife Victoria said Cllr Gillick was not smearing the teenagers but was saying he could not truly look after them as a ‘corporate parent’.

Last night Cllr Paul Bullen, the UKIP group leader, said: “It’s an ongoing investigation and we will await the result.

“As far as we’re concerned, every person in this country is innocent until proven guilty and we will take whatever action is required at the end of the investigation, once the result is known.”